Sound transmission



O. A. BERMAN Feb. 24, 1925. 1 1,527,621

SOUND TRANSMI SS ION Filed Oct. 30. 1922 Patented Feb. 2.4, 1925."J

OSCAR A. BERMAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SOUND TRANSMISSION.

Application led October 30, 1922. Serial No. 597,981.

To allwhom it may concern: Be it known that I, OSCAR A. BERMAN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at 224 East 8th Street, Cincinnati, State of Ohio, have invented certain new useful Improvements in Sound Transmissions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a device for enhancing the sound effect of sound transmission and particularly of radio transmission. s A

It is an object ofthe invention to amplify and clarify the sounds transmitted by radio, or `in some other way, through the utilization of strings of an instrument which ,are caused to swing in accordance with the sound vibrations produced by the receiver and to introduce into the sounds produced in this manner those overtones and other tones which frequentlyare lost in the trans- Y mission of sound.

It is also an object of the invention to set uppthe auxiliary vibrations of the strings ,of a stringed instrument by 'utilizing a sound box in connection with thel receiver and by detachably colmecting this sound' b ox with a stringed instrument in such manner that a mutualinfluence through said sound box is produced, the sound vibrations of the receiver causing through saidsound box the strings of the instrument to swing and the vibrations of the strings tending to clarify the sound vibrations of the receiver.

It is furthermore an object of the inventionto provide a device of this kind in which receiving instruments of `various forms may be used and to render the device adaptable for attachment of an ordinary head receiver ,or those receiving instruments which are uliw in use with magnifying devices ,and the It is also an object of the invexitionto provide in a device of this character means by which the iniuencey of the strings of the instrument upon the transmission of sound may be varied in accordance with the regulation of these vibrations which or- Y, dinar-ily is applied to stringed instruments.

With these and numerous other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying dra and is described in the following speciicatlon.

In the drawing:

Fig. l 1 is a toplan view of a piano with parts/shown bro en away and to which the device has been attached;

Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the sound box itself with a receiving mechanism connected therewith; 'l

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the sound box, the receiving device being shown in elevation, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view in elevation of a modied' form.

The device comprises principally a sound box which may be constructed as a tubular member 1 of whole or circular, or square cross-section, as desired, this tubular member being provided with a longitudinal slot 2, which preferably extends from .one edge to the other ofthe box. The ends of the box preferably are left open.

The means for fastening the sound box to a stringed instrument comprises in the preferred form, stems 3 which are secured to the wall of the box near the end thereof and in opposition to the slot 2. The stems extend through the slot and terminate in hooks which may partly embrace the strings of ber for securely holding'the device in place A directly above a plurality of strings of the instrument, the strings between the stems being however suii'iciently remote from the sound box so as not to be interfered `with in their yibrations. t

The stringed instrument with which 1 n the described embodiment the device 1s shown combined is shown here as a piano 1() having a frame l1 withthe strings tensioned across said frame in the well known arrangement. The strings l2 are illustrated diagrammatically only and are shown 1n a number smaller than the number with which these strings are usually used. lYhile those strings to which the sound box .1s attached are naturally prevented from vibratm 1n accordance with the sounds emanating rom the box, it is to be noted that in the modern piano a plurality of strings of the same f tone value are usually used and that therelll) value to `which the clamping elements are fastened.

The sound box is combined with a receptacle or socket into which some electromagnetic device 21 may be inserted or to which said electromagnetic device may be secured in any suitable way. This electromagnetic device, which serves for converting the fluctuations in current in each sound vibration, may have any desired construction and may. for instance, be the receiver which in radio transmissionv is frequently combined with the magnifier or amplifier. The current is introduced through the wires 22 and a clamping screw 24 serves for maintaining t-he sound transmission device in a.r

uitable position with respect to the sound ox 1. l

In Fig.' 4 this socket for receiving' the deviceconverting the electrical vibrations into sound vibrations is shown as the ordinary head receiver including the two ear pieces 3() which are secured by clamping screws 31 to a head band 32.` These ear pieces are inserted into the branches 33 of a socket 34 which is in communication with the interior of the sound box 1.

, Upon the transmission of sound signals,

-and especiallyof musical tones, as for in-v stance by radio, the sound vibrations produced in the electromagnetic devices shown will be amplified through the attachment of the sound producing device with the sound box. These amplified vibrations will set up harmonic vibrations within the strings which are in proximity to the soundbox, and these harmonic vibrations will combinevwith the sound vibrations producedin the electromagnetic device to amplify and clarify the tones produced. Many ofl the overtones which ordinarily are not received by the human ear iflproduced in the electromagnetic device will `infiuence the strings Vof the instrument to cause -them to vibrate and will thereby set up sound vibrations within the sound box which otherwise would. not be produced therein.

. ment, having a sound box, la second sound` I claim: .f u 1. In combination with a strlnged lnstrument having a sound box, a second sound box, `an electromagnetic sound reproducingv iing said second sound box to spaced strings of the strin ed instrument.

' 3. In com ination with a stringed instrubox'having an opening therein, a radio recelving device assoclated with v'the second sound fbox, and means for securlng said second sound box to the stringed instrument.

with the opening-fof said box in opposition to the strings.

4. In a device of the character described, Y

the combination of a tubular sound box having a radially projecting socket and a longitudinal slot in opposition to said socket, an electromagnetic radio receiving and sound producing device detachably mounted in strings, and a radio receiving and sound.

producing device connected with said second sound box.

6. In combination with a stringed instrulment having a, sound box, a second sound instrument "having a sound box, a second,`

sound box interposed between'said radio receiving device and the stringed instrument.

8. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a sound box, a rado head receiver havlng two ear pieces, and,

means for establishing communication between said ear pieces and the interior of the sound box. I

9. In combination with a piano having a frame for strings, a tubular sound box provided with a/n axial 'slot,-means for supporting said sound box selectively adjacent a set of strings of the piano, a radio receiving and sound producing device, and means'for connecting said radio receiving and sound producing devicewith the sound box, said connecting means communicating with the interior of the sound box.

10. In a device of the character described,

vthe combination of a tubular sound box having an opening in one side thereof, a radio receiving and sound producing device, a support ,opposite said opening integral with said sound box for the Nradlo receiving and sound producing device, stems extending through said sound box opening, andv means on said stem for clamping the sound box to the strings of a. piano. l

In witness whereof I aiiix my si ature.

@SCAR -ABE 

